Information:

The Optimists Alumni Drum &
Bugle Corps

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Western Tech Trumpet Band

One of the
roots of the Toronto Optimists can be found in
the Western Tech Trumpet
Band. Alumni
of Western Tech include:
Barry Bell, Clare Reid,
Lorne Ferrazzutti and Warren Berger.

Western Tech Band, circa 1957

WESTERN TECHNICAL COMMERCIAL
SCHOOL CADET CORPS TRUMPET BAND

This band is composed of “Western” Students 14
to 18 years old. They tackle everything with
spirit and enthusiasm and have always managed to
stay up among the firsts and seconds in the
Canadian Championships.

The yearly turn-over of our older players is
always our big problem, but also our challenge.
It is a pleasure to see the senior bands march
by, and note the large numbers of ex-Western
bandsmen swelling the ranks.

Last year this band chose a Scottish Theme which
was composed of all Scottish music and even
included two Scottish Lassies dancing the
Highland Fling and the Sword Dance as the band
carried out its drill.

Western Tech Trumpet Band (1954 or 1955)

This year the band has switched back to the
“Western” Theme which has always been popular
with the boys, and they feature such tunes as
The Dying Cowboy, Don’t Fence Me In, and South
of the Border. They hope this will find the same
favour with the audience as last years theme.

The band is under the direction of Don McIntyre
and Claire Reid.

(These notes were taken from the program for a
1957 Opti-Corps Contest.)